Update: Stop Prosecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses

The criminal proceedings against Jehovah’s Witnesses Artur Severinchik, Yevgeniy Fedin and Sergei Loginov under “counter-extremism” legislation are ongoing. They are being persecuted for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of religion. Following the release of Yevgeniy Fedin and Sergei Loginov on 11 April from pre-trial detention the three are now under travel and other restrictions. Meanwhile, the authorities have failed to investigate effectively their and other Jehovah’s Witnesses’ allegations of torture and other ill-treatment.

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Dear Prosecutor General, I would like to express my concern regarding the ongoing criminal proceedings against Jehovah’s Witnesses Artur Severinchik, Sergei Loginov and Yevgeniy Fedin. They are being persecuted solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of religion. While we welcome the release from pre-trial detention of Artur Severinchik on 15 March and Sergei Loginov and Yevgeniy Fedin on 11 April, all three are still under investigation under unfounded charges and subjected to a number of restrictions, including curfew and a prohibition to use phones or the internet. Moreover, I am concerned that no effective investigation has been conducted into allegations of torture of several Jehovah’s Witnesses following the raids of Jehovah’s Witnesses’ homes in Surgut on 15 February 2019. At least seven of around 40 people who were arrested during the raids complained of torture and other ill-treatment to which they were subjected by law enforcement officers while in their custody. I therefore urge you to terminate the criminal proceedings against Artur Severinchik, Sergei Loginov and Yevgeniy Fedin, and any Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia, under unfounded “counter-extremism” charges; and instigate prompt, effective and impartial investigations of the allegations of torture and other ill-treatment of Sergei Loginov, Artur Severinchik, Yevgeniy Fedin, and other Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the prosecution in fair trial proceedings of anyone found responsible for these crimes. Yours sincerely, ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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